Loose-leaf binder.



J. ADAMS. LOOSE LEAP BINDEB. APPLIOATION FILED NOV. 28, 1909.

TNTE

JOHN Q. ADAMS, OF JAMESTOWN, OHIG.

' LOOSE-LEAF BINDER.

esneoe.

Specificaton of Letters Patent.

Application filed November 26, 1909.

Patentecl Jan. 17, 1911.

Serial No. 530,050.

To alt whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN Q. ADAMs, a citizen of the United States, residing at J amestown, in the county of Greene and State ot' Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Loose-Leaf Binders, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to loose-leaf binders of that type wherein fiexible members connect opposite plates or covers which bind the leaves or sheets between them.

One object of the invention is to provide an improved binder of the character indicated in which the leaves are subjected to a resilient clamping action; and another object is to provide a binder having a wide range of adjustment adapting it for binding a small or large number of leaves.

The invention will first be described with reference to the accompanying drawings and then more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

lteferring to the drawings: Figure l is a section taken longitudinally through the plates and through the leaves Secured between them. Fig. 2 is a vertical section on an enlarged scale taken through the upper clamping plate and showing the lever for tightening a tlexible member in a raised position. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section on the line III-HI of Fig. 2 the lever being shown in its lowered or looking position. Fig. 4 is a detail view of one of the fiexible members or chains and the clips Secured to its ends. Fig. 5 is a detail perspective View of a portion of one of the plates. Figs. 6 and 7 are detail views showing modifications of the structure illust'ated in Fig. 5.

1-1 denotes plates between which the leaves or sheets 2' to be bound are clamped; and 3-3 denote fiexible members, preferably chains which pass through the leaves and secure the plates l-1 together clamping the leaves between them. The plates 1-1 are formed to be resilient under the pull of the chains 3 in order that the leaves may be held with a resilient clamping grip whereby they are Secured more firmly and eii ectually than they would be under a nonresilient grip. In the form of the plates illustrated, referring particularly to Fig. 2, a strip oi" sheet metal is shaped to form a central trough L from the upper edges of the side walls of which the strip is bent downwardly and outwardly at each side forming liaring sides which are rounded or curved inwardly upon themselves at their free ends preferably into the form of a coil as shown,

providing a surface 5, preferably fiat, at 2 the end of each side to rest upon the leaves. It will be observed therefore that the plates, when subjected to a pressure exerted toward the leaves and upon their upper or trough section, will yield in a spring-like manner along their coil or fiaring members. The side walls of the trough l of each plate are provided with apertures preferably in the form of slots 6 which incline oppositely at each side of the center of a plate, the slots being inclined toward the center of a plate from their uppcr ends downwardly. The bottom ot' each trough t is provided at opposite sides of its center with apertures 7 through which the chains 3 extend after passing through perforations in the sheets. Adjacent the inner edgeof each aperture is formed a spring tongue 8 over which the corresponding chain is turned after passing through the leaves and plate. The apertures 7 and corresponding spring-tongues 8 may be forined by slitting the bottom of the trough in the form of a U and turning back the metal within the slit (see Figs. 3 and 5).

The fieXible members or chains 3 which secure the plates l-l together and clamp the leaves between them are provided at each end 'with means whereby one end of the chain is detachably secured to the upper plate and the other end is detachably secured to the lower plate. In the illustrated embodiment of the invention these means are spring clips 9 and 10 which are formed by bending a resilient member, such as a spring wire, upon itself to form opposite legs terminating at their free ends in outwardly projecting portions 11 which are adapted to be seated in opposing slots 6-6, this being accomplshed by pressing the opposite legs together until the ends ll have been retracted sufficiently to enter the slots 6-6. The ends ll may strike the opposite sides of the plate as shown forming stops which limit the spread of the legs of the clips. Each spring clip may be provided with finger pieces 12-12 which are grasped when compressing the clip for insertion or withdrawal from the slots 6-6; and each clip 9-10 is preferably provided with an eye to which one end of the chain is Secured. The spring-clip that engages the upper plate is formed to provide a handle 13 by means of which the clip may be rocked on its ends 11 as a fulcrum, the attached chain being thereby drawn taut with a leverage. lVhen the handle is thrown into its lowered position as shown in Fig. 3, its end contacts with the bottom of the trough and it is held in this position by the tension of the chain which is thus locked against accidental release' The operation, generally stated, of the invention, is as follows: If it be desired to bind together a small number of leaves, the clips 9 are positioned in the end slots 6-6 ot the lower plate, one clip being attached at one end of the plate and the other clip being attached at the other end of the plate. From the clips 9 the chains 3 extend in opposite directions along the trough 4: to the aperture 7 remote from the Secured end of a chain, the chains lying side by side in the trough for a portion of their length. The chains then extend through the apertures 7 in the lower plate through the perforations in the leaves, through alining apertures 7 in the upper plate, and along the trough of the latter in opposite directions, the clip 10 of each chain being inserted in such slots 6-6 of the upper plate as will bring the plates 1-1 firmly against the out-er interposed leaves or sheets. The'clips 10 when thus positioned may have their handles 13 in an upright position as shown in Figs. 2 and i or inclined toward the center; and from such position they can be swung to their looking position as shown in Figs. l and 3 the chains being thus drawn taut by the clips 13 used as levers. This draft upon the chains 3 draws the plates 1-1 together pressing them firmly upon the leaves, the plates as before stated yielding in a resiliently manner above their surfaces bearing upon the sheets. This increases the grip of the plates upon the leaves. A further resiliency is given to the clamping action of the chains 3 by the spring tongues 8 over which each chain passes as it enters the aperture 7 in the lower plate and leaves the like aperture in the upper plate.

The slots 6, being elongated and inclined, present a considerable area so that the ends ll of the clips can be inserted therein without exercising much care.

As each end of each chain is adjustable along opposite plates it is evident that the plates will be susceptible of a maximum scparation twice that obtainable if one end of thechain were permanently secured to a plate. The advantage of this is evident when it is desired to secure together voluminous records.

If the sheets being bound have the perforations for the chains connected with -the edge of the sheet by a slit, the sheets can be then engaged with the chains without threading the latter through the sheets. If

however the perforations in the sheet are not connected With its edge, each chain may be detachable from either or both clips so that the chains can be threaded through the openings in the sheets; and as a convenient 'means for doing this, that end of each chain 3 which is connected to the clip 10 is provided with a rod adapted for detachable connection to the clip and which can be used to thread the chains through the perforations of the sheets of paper.

In Fig. 6 the spring-tongue 3 is the same as that shown in Fig. 5 excepting that opposite edges of the tongue are provided with upturned lips that overcome any tendency of the chains 3 to slip ofi' of the tongues.

Fig. 7 shows the chains 3 as passing over a roller S instead of the tongues S or 8 This roller is shown carried by a spring tastened to the bottom of the trough t.

The invention provides a binder that is positive in its action, simple in construction, and susceptible of a wide range of adjustment.

While I have disclosed the preferred embodiment of my invention, I am aware that modifications can be made 'in some of its details without departng from its spirit and scope. I therefore reserve the right to such modifications.

Having described my invention, what I claim, is-

l. A device ot' the character described comprising independent and oppositely disposed resilient plates, and fiexible means connecting'the plates and adapted to press them together against such resiliency ot' the plates.

2. A device of the character described comprising opposite plates formed of resilient material, each plate comprising sides separated at their lower ends and connected by a portion curved above such ends to be resilient under pressure, and means connecting the plates and adapted to press them together.

3. A device of the character described comprising opposite plates, one ot the plates being 'ormed of resilient material, the sides of the plate fiaring downwardly and outwardly forming free wings terminating in curved edges, and means connecting the plates and adapted to press them together.

et. A device of the character described comprising opposite plates, and fiexible members connecting the plates, one end of each fiexible member being connected by means of a lever to a plate whereby the fiexible members can be tautcned with a leverage. p

5. A device of the character described comprising opposite plates, and fiexible members connecting the plates, each fleXible member being adjustable at one end along one plate and independently adjustable at I the other end along the other plate, the flexible members being independently adjustable.

(3. A device ot' the character described comprising opposite plates, one of the plates being provided with a plurality of oppositely disposed apertures, and fieXible members connecting the plates and operatable to draw them together, each of the fiexible members having connected to one* end a clip 'ormed with opposite spring-legs adapt-` ed to enter said oppositely disposed apertures whereby the flexible members are adjustable along said plate, the clip being dis engaged from said plate by withdrawing the spring-legs t'rom the apertures.

T. A device of the character described comprising opposite plates ot' resilient material each toi-med with a central trough the side walls of which are provided with oppositely disposed apertures, the sides of the plates fiaring downwardly and outwardly from the upper edges of the sides of the trough and terminating in rounded or cui-red. ends, and chains having at each end spring clips detachably engaging the plates at the apertures thereot, one end of each chain being connected to the lower plate and the other end of the chain being connected to the upper plate.

S. A device of the character described comprising opposite plates, and flexible members connecting the plates and adapted to draw them together, the plates having apertures through which the chains extend and the plates being provided at the apertures with spring tcngues upon which the chains lie and which are adapted to tension the chains.

9.1\ devicc of the character described comprising opposite plates, each plate having oppositely disposed apertures, and flexible members connecting the plates and, adjustable along the plates and operatable to draw the plates together, each flexible member having a spring clip connected to each end, each spring clip being formed of a spring-wire bent upon itself to form opposite legs which terminate in outstanding end portions which are adapted to enter said opposite apertures and be retained therein by the resiliency of the clip, and

one ot' the clips being for-med With a handle extension whereby said clip can be used as a lever in tautening ,the fiexible member.

10. A device of the character described comprising opposite plates, flexible means connected at one end to one of the plates, and a leVer connected to the other end of said tiexible means and pivoted to the other plate.

ll. A derice of the character described comprising opposite plates, flexible means connected at one end to one of the plates, and a lever pivoted to the other plate and connected to the other end ot' the fiexible means, the lever when thrown into its final tautening position being locked by the pull of said fiexible member.

12. A device of the character described comprising opposite plates, flexible members connected at one end to one of the plates, and a lever tor each fiexible member, the latter being connected to its lever intermediate the ends of the lever, and the levers being pivoted to the opposite plate from that to which the other end of the flexible member is Secured, said levers when thrown into their final position after tautening the fiexible members having their free ends held against a part of the adjacent plate by the tension in the fiexible member, the point of connection ot said member 'to the lever being past or beyond the tulcrum of the lat-- ter, thereby providing a lock tor the lever.

In testimony Whereot I attix my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN Q. ADAMS.

XVitnesses H. K. LAIRD, M. T. MULEREIGHT. 

